Glucagon News

GLUCAGON SUMMARY

Glucagon for Injection (rDNA origin) is a polypeptide
hormone identical to human glucagon that increases blood glucose and relaxes
smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract. Glucagon is synthesized in a
special non-pathogenic laboratory strain of bacteria that has been genetically altered by the addition
of the gene for glucagon.

For the treatment of hypoglycemia:

Glucagon is indicated as a treatment for severe
hypoglycemia.

Because patients with type 1
diabetes may have less of an increase in blood glucose levels compared with
a stable type 2 patient, supplementary carbohydrate should be given as soon
as possible, especially to a pediatric patient.

For use as a diagnostic aid:

Glucagon is indicated as a diagnostic aid in the
radiologic examination of the stomach, duodenum, small bowel, and colon when
diminished intestinal motility would be advantageous.

Glucagon
is as effective for this examination as are the anticholinergic drugs. However,
the addition of the anticholinergic agent may result in increased side effects.

The effect of the once-daily human glucagon-like peptide 1 analog liraglutide on the pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen. [2011.08]INTRODUCTION: Acetaminophen is a commonly used analgesic and antipyretic drug, and is frequently used to study gastric emptying. Due to its high permeability and high solubility, acetaminophen can be used as a pharmacologic model for medications with similar characteristics. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of liraglutide on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of acetaminophen in patients with type 2 diabetes... CONCLUSION: The overall exposure of acetaminophen following a 1 g dose was comparable for subjects taking liraglutide or placebo, and the clinical impact of the lower C(max) and delay in absorption of acetaminophen was considered to be transient and small, and without clinical relevance. No adjustment for acetaminophen is recommended when used concomitantly with liraglutide.

Clinical Trials Related to Glucagon

Acute Regulation of Intestinal and Hepatic Lipoprotein Production by Glucagon [Completed]
Insulin resistant states are characterized by hepatic lipoprotein (VLDL) particle
overproduction. Numerous hormonal and nutritional factors are known to influence hepatic
lipoprotein particle production, including insulin and free fatty acids (FFA). In contrast
to the liver, the intestine has traditionally been viewed as a 'passive' organ with respect
to lipoprotein production, with intestinal lipoprotein particle production determined mainly
by the amount of fat ingested and absorbed. Glucagon plays a key role in the regulation of
carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism and has recently been shown for the first time to
regulate hepatic lipoprotein production in mice. Ours will be the first study to
investigate the effect of glucagon on hepatic and intestinal lipoprotein production in
humans.

Safety Study of Repeated Doses of Glucagon on Animal Starch in the Liver [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to learn if giving multiple doses of a hormone called glucagon
can cause a major decrease in liver glycogen (animal starch). Glucagon is currently approved
by the Food and Drug Administration to be given as a large dose to treat severe low blood
sugar. Our group is studying whether glucagon can be given in repeated small doses to
prevent hypoglycemia.

Study of Glucagon, Ghrelin and Growth Hormone as Counterregulatory Hormones [Recruiting]
Glucagon has been used for decades as a test of growth hormone (GH) reserve. The pathway by
which GH is stimulated by glucagon is not established. Acyl ghrelin has been shown to
increase GH levels and to be stimulated by an increase in adrenergic activity. The proposed
study will test the concept that with the fall in blood glucose it is likely that there is a
sympathetic discharge which contributes to the increase in acyl ghrelin and indirectly leads
to the increase in GH and cortisol.

Evaluate the Immunogenicity of a Novel Glucagon Formulation [Completed]
In recent past years, regulatory agencies such as FDA and EMA have outlined and recommended
adoption of a risk-based approach to evaluating and mitigating immune responses to
therapeutic proteins that may adversely affect their safety and efficacy. In their
recommendations, both transient and persistent antibody responses should be combined to
determine the overall immunogenicity of a product in a given condition. In particular,
persistent antibodies are of high importance, since patients with persistent antibodies are
more likely to experience clinical sequelae in terms of safety and efficacy, while a
transient antibody response can resolve without further consequence.
The present study will provide information on immunogenicity of AMG504-1 with regards to the
potential development of high antibody titers or neutralizing antibody activity which may
lead to loss of efficacy or an increased risk of an adverse reaction.